Music Reviews

This is a game for all the family. You get to control 2 characters "ABE" "MUNCH". Abe is best on land by running fast, jumping high, mind controling enemies, telling friends to help him out and more. Munch is small and he can swim, use a wheel chair to move faster, rescue small fury creatures and more. If you like Crash Bandicoot(I thought Crash 2 was best followed by Crash 1)then you'll like this.

PRO'S

the price
not violent
quite original
make kids laugh
Great graphics

infinity health
No time limit to finish missions
90% of game Not hard(My friend with learning dicabilities could play this).
save anywere
good cutcenes(you can skip them)

quite repetetive
takes 10 days or more to finish
sometimes you don't know what to do next(I didn't play the game for months then I got back to it and completed it).

Munch's Odyssey is definitely NOT your typical platformer. While it's suitable for pretty much all ages, it's humor is aimed at a more teen or adult audience.

The graphics are incredibly realistic, especially in the cut scenes. And even if you are familiar with the back story of this series, you have to watch the introductory movie. Hysterical.

The gaming is easy at first, and you get lots of help early on to get you into the flow of the game. I haven't finished it by far, but I've heard that the puzzles will get harder as you progress, but that only means that you shouldn't get bored with it very easily.

If you're tired of the well-done, tried and true Mario-like platform games, and are looking for something that has it's own unique (albeit wacky) style, give Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee a try!

Odd world munchs oddysee is a great game.
It'S Blend of platforming is cool. Some parts were annoying because You didn't know what to do next but thats the best part about the game. Especcially possesing..Thats pretty neat.

The graphics are the biggest highlights of the game. The texture is very high nd' I love the res of the game!

The story is very good and inovating. I didn't really like the ending of the game. They could have made it a tad bit better.
The levels are Friken sweet, through out the game you have to use both Munch and Abe in alot of puzzles which are really neat I might add.

The amount of time this game took me was awhile but they could have made it a little longer though. But still the lengh was good.
There are also some very memorable levels in the game espicially(My spelling sucks I know) When you're possesing the bots n' stuff like that.

Over all I would probably give this game a 9.2 out of 10...

Great game....A must own for XBox Owners..

Later..

Hitman 2 came as a surprise to alot of people. PC to game consoles has always had a bad rep especially towards die hard PC gamers. I have never played the first hitman so i didn't know what the game was about. It turns out that this game is quality.
This game is extremely violent. You shoot people and blood splatters on the wall and everwhere. Not as much as Mortal Kombat. But the amount of weapons and extras you get is fun to mess around with. Even when the person is shot, you can still shoot them when they are an the floor. Their bodies just start flying all over the place. You can do it forever and their body is still going all over the place. That's the fun part. The environment is nice looking but gets bland and boring at some parts. Their huge also. And there are lots of stuff you can shoot and destroy. Like lamps, cups, windows, and other stuff. The framerates are pretty consistent at all times. Not much slowdowns. I hate slowdowns. But again with the environments, they are pretty nice looking and authentic. You actually start at a church or farmhouse. There are some pigs outside and you can shoot them and kill them. That's hilarious!! You can even shoot at a bunch of birds. And they flock away.
Now the problems of the game. First the controls are horrible. They are stiff even though you use the analog. Your hands will get tired and Agent 47's movements are really stiff. Like you can move along freeling up a stair case cause your hitting against an invisible wall. So you have to move a bit on to progress. It felt like playing the old tomb raider games with its stiff controls and arthritis inducing pains.
Now there is the difficulty problems. THe game is really really hard. You'll be guaranteed to slam your controller and swear at the tv alot of times. THere will be a part for example when your using a silencer gun but the enemies can still hear you. You can steal and wear the enemies clothing but still the others will know your a fake. And once those guys know your not one of them, you'll be hailed with so many bullets that it is almost impossible to survive the fire fight and trying to look for cover. Everyone will be after you. The game revolves around stealth and alot of stealth even though they give you soooooo many cool weapons that make alot of loud sounds. That's the part i don't get. Why all the war fare weapons when you can't even use it much.
And there is the level designs. Yeah some parts are nice but there will be others parts that are just plain boring and annoying to get through. Like in the game there are sooooooo many doors to go in and out. It's almost like a maze. Lots of doors and not much to do inside them.
Now your saying "Why don't you use the map then". There is probably the biggest problem in this game. Instead of just pressing a button to bring up the map on the screen, you have to press select, then choose map on the menu screen and press X. I'm sorry but that is way too much process to just bring up the map and beleive me you will be accessing the map alot in this game since the environments are pretty big. And the annoying part is that the map seems to alwasy go on far away view so you have to toggle your analog stick to make it closer to your view.
Well i think that's enough explanation. This game is hard, and even when you beat a level your faced with an even more difficult level with the same layout and door. Its not satisfying to get through. Trust me. I just found myself putting on cheat codes and blasting everyone. I put a matrix style code that is low gravity so when you shoot people, they go high in the air in slow mo and you can shoot them again and have fun. Tha't about it.

I'm generally a fan of two types of games: sports games and shooters (1st and 3rd person). I'm not much of a strategy game player, so I don't have much interest in games like Final Fantasy and games of that ilk. But I typically devour every action game I buy (Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell, GTA, James Bond: E or N, Medal of Honor, etc.). I'll play the game exclusively until I've beaten it, whereas I usually rotate between various sports games.

With Hitman 2, though, I can't bring myself to finish it. Not because of the difficulty of it (though it certainly does provide enough of a challenge), but so many of the levels are excruciatingly slow. The challenge and exceptional graphics become overshadowed by the significant number of levels that just plod along with very little action to keep the player entertained. I've read other reviews that claim that Hitman 2 is more about strategy and stealth than it is about straight up action, but silently creeping across snow fields that are seemingly miles long is just boring.

Splinter Cell bridged this gap nicely, as did Metal Gear Solid. There is plenty of stealth involved, while they're still peppered with enough action to keep the player immersed in the game. But Hitman 2 just doesn't pull me in. The action, when it's there, is good, and the graphics are phenomenal. Which is why it's frustrating that this may the first game that I'm not going to finish.

first off let me just say that this game is addictive,once you play it you cant stop.Its challenging on any level(took me about a month and a half to beat).Has about 21 levels,6 different countries(sicily,st.petersburg,japan,malaysia,nuristan,india), about 20 different weapons(as you go through levels you pick up different ones)/The plot of the story is your a retired hitman living in a church,until your preacher/friend is kidnapped,so your forced out of retirement and you start back to work for an agency and you must complete missions for them in return of information about the kidnapping of the preacher.this game is highly adddictive,fun and challenging.its worth the price and could possibly be the best game for the ps2 system,so go out and buy it!!

great graphics. kewl storyline and its kewl drivin all the different cars. it is awesome. i dont like the minigames and wen u finish the game there's not that much to do. wen u get some cheats they're awesome too.

this was one of the worst games that i have ever played in my life. for starters, it has that horrible swerve camera that if you stare at it enough, it makes you want to throw up(nautious).the gameplay is also just plain stupid. i mean cmon....why are bart and his sister driving cars??? another thing is that it gets boring wayyyyy to quickly. how many times can you do the same boring mission over and over without wanting to smash your TV?! i would reccomend somebody to NEVER BUY THIS AND NEVER RENT THIS GAME!!

The Simpsons video-game license has languished in the '[crummy] exploitation' category for so long that it's easy to expect another bland hack-job to sully the reputation of television's finest show. But lo and behold, this time something went right'even the Comic Book Guy would be stoked. No matter how the developers try to position it (mission-based driving?), Hit and Run's gameplay is virtually identical to that of the Grand Theft Auto series, right down to the wanted meter and button assignments. Missions have you speeding around Springfield collecting items, racing against NPCs, or preventing Smithers from getting to work on time. Often, you'll have to jump out and do platformy things like collect coins or jump from ledge to inaccessible ledge. Zany cut-scenes and well-timed quips keep the pace brisk, while the large maps provide ample opportunities for exploration. The music and voice acting are flawless, and the vibrant, cartoony graphics bring Springfield to spectacular life. For all its charms, there are a few problems. At its root, Hit and Run is merely a scaled-back Simpsons-themed GTA clone and lacks true innovation. The sound levels are inconsistent, requiring constant fiddling with the volume. During platform-based missions, the controls fall apart, and the camera gets stuck too easily. In the car, the map display is practically useless. And finally, the missions are bipolar: either incredibly easy or insanely difficult. Smithers is a boss for cryin' out loud! Still, the deeper your Simpsons lore runs, the more references you'll spot and the more you'll enjoy Hit and Run. Whether piloting Chester J. Lampwick's rocket car or harvesting tomacco with the Plow King, The Simpsons Hit and Run is the outstanding game that fans knew the show could become. Mmmmmm'Sacrelicious!

first of all the game is about a kid who joins a online game called the world. his one friend "orca" was data drained by a virus named skeith. he then meets the little girl in white gives him a book.his friend ended up in a coma. "kite" (the main character) travels with a female character "blackrose" who is a newbie or begginer just like him. she takes them to a viraly infected area called "hidden,forbidden,holy ground" where they find a monster who can not die. later they continue meeting virus monsters and screwed up areas. i gave this game a best game because i am a huge fan. if you like rpg and movement fighting you will love it.

All in all, this is a spectacular game. It fills the empty space left in my heart by the horrible attempt at a sequel Konami tried to pass off as Devil May Cry 2.

I rented .hack from the video store on a Thursday, and reluctantly brought it back on Monday, after committing 40 hours of playtime to this peice of art. Don't be tricked, this game *can* be short. But if you play RPG's like I do, you'll do sidequests, level up your character constantly, and try all sorts of weird things with the game, it's definitely not a 15 hour game.

I was originally attracted to the game because of it's basis in Anime (it comes with a short anime movie to supplement the story in the game, which you should watch before playing the game).

Also, I've been learning Japanese for a while, and I really had alot of fun playing through the game with the Japanese language voices (yes you can change it, and don't worry, it still has the english subtitles). All the fans of anime I've met have preferred the japanese language with subtitles, and I thank bandai for taking this into account when they made the game.

I was able to beat this game thoroughly in a 5 day rental. And because of that, I was able save [$$$] + S&H. I would only buy this game if I had alot of money to spend. Otherwise, I suggest it as a rental.

Well, admittedly, this is only a preview. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm glad someone is stepping up to the plate and trying to be innovative in the world of rpgs. Final Fantasy X didn't have a shred of innovation in it(except maybe sphere grid), and turned out to be easily the worst FF ever. From what I understand, .hack's battle system is something similar to a Star Ocean or Parasite Eve. You move you're characters around the screen and press a button to attack, choose what magic to do, etc. One of the coolest things about this game, however, is the fact that once you beat an area, you can then go to a certain computer and load and battle field you want. In other words, if you are in a castle overlooking a forest, but you want to fight in a desert or snowfield, walk into this weird device, pick it, and you will have a desert or snowfield to play with automatically.
This is all possible obviously to the idea of the plot in which you are in a computer's world the whole time. Not only can you hack into an enemy's data stream and lower his strength or hp(for example)but you can also talk to the other characters as if you were chatting on AOL with them. Even the main menu looks like a computer menu. You could tell Bandai was really going for atmosphere in this one.
To add to this game, you will also get a good 45 minutes of anime in each chapter in the form of parts from the .hack OVA. I'm telling you, ...that is a very good deal. The only thing you might want to consider is that each game in the series will only be about 20 hours long, since each game is thought of as chapters of a bigger game and not a singular game in itself. Interesting, but watch out for replay value. All in all, this is definitely a game to watch out for and could be a sleeper hit.

First off i'de like to say that the graphics on this game really suck.second, this game is the what ghost and niobe are doing in the movie so there is no plot. thirdly, its too easy, i beat it in two days playing for at leas an hour each day.All-in-all this game sucks and the Wachosky brother bragged about WAAAAAAAAAy too much. it is a waste of both youre time and money.

I wanted more out of Enter the Matrix. Not some simple kiddie game rated T for no reason. I awaited for this game in the GR (game-revolution, where I work) mail box so I could snag it! But I snagged [stuff]. The game runs level based, like usual, and gives you two options for players, Ghost or Niobe. They each have the same missions except for car parts. Any way, the graphics are poor for the GCN. The focus button is the only cool part of the game. The like of different fighting skills is making the game boring. You don't even get to keep your guns every level. They should look at Turok: Evolution for help with that. All the missions sound hard, but tend to be too easy even on hard! Shooting people or beating the [stuff] out of them is cool, but lacks. Some enemies even get stuck in the wall. Ghost got stuck in the wall! That is weird! To die, just stand there and throw grenades at the ground! You can't die because the S.W.A.T. can't shoot! Well, have fun watching wour mash of polygons run around. Scare you later!

I really like this game. I rented it first and beat it then, to show you how good it is, I bought it. It has all the cool things video gamers have always wanted in a game. It's got kung fu, shooting, driving, flying, dodging bullets, and to cap it all off, it gives you a lot of extra info about the Matrix trilogy that you don't get anywhere else. This game has actual movie clips created just for the game. The movie actors provide the voices and the kung fu was done by the same guy who did the kung fu in the Matrix movies. With out the game, you will not know many things about what happen in the movies. The game also has a cool hacking mode. You can go in and download a multiplayer mode, training, weapons, you can drop weapons in certain places in levels, and you can even download the ability to fight with a sword. The reason I only gave it a 4 was that it will only take 5-6 hours to beat if you are a regular gamer. Also, in some cases, the graphics are a bit lacking of what the Nintendo Gamecube is capable of. All in all, it is good. If you don't want to buy it for some odd reason, at least rent it. It is the only game of it's kind and probably will be for a very long time. Hope this helped!

First the problems. You DO need a fairly powerful computer to play this game, otherwise it's jerky. The ships don't do anything but put up AA fire. They don't attack each other. Some ships, like the transports, don't follow the rest of the ships in their group. The lack of torpedos on player aircraft is unrealistic, as are the bomb loads.
On the other hand. The graphics are outstanding. The planes are very realistic in look and performance. I'm a real WWII Pacific Theatre buff and especially like the way that the F4U Corsair performs. When you roll to the right and dive away from a Zero you usually can outrun them, just like in real life. The locations, Midway, Henderson Field, etc. are also very well done.
After a couple of weeks I started using the included Mission Builder to create my own missions. Some are based on historical events, like my "Remember Pearl Harbor" mission. Others are just major fleet, air engagements. The Mission Builder should ensure that you don't get bored after beating both the single missions and the campaign missions.
Whether you like to fly US or Japanese aircraft, you'll like this game.
I highly recommend playing this game with a force feedback stick, like the Microsoft Force Feedback 2. I also recommend at least a P2 or equivalent processor at 550mHz or higher, and at least 128megs of RAM.
Personally, I think this game could be even better if Microsoft issued a supplemental update to correct a few of the realism problems (no torpedos, bomb loads). With those things fixed, I'd give this game 5 stars.

Combat Flight Simulator 2 is a dream come true for historic flight sim fans. Excellent graphics, great sound effects, and adjustable realism settings make CFS2 a thrilling and accessible sortie into the unfriendly skies of the South Pacific during World War II.

After choosing to fly for the Japanese or American forces, you can pick from a selection of seven ultrarealistic aircraft. Experienced flight sim fans will drool over the plane models, accurate down to the number of rivets. Newbies will appreciate the excellent flight and landing tutorials.

There are over 100 missions to fly, many based on historic missions from the war. This unusual level of realism and attention to detail comes from the game developers' personal love of flight: many members of the CFS2 team are pilots. Their extensive research included interviews with Japanese and U.S. aces from the real war in the Pacific. The missions themselves are lengthy and often complex, and are just as accurate as the planes; players take part in history, but cannot change the outcomes of battles.

Because the action takes place in the South Pacific don't expect to see a wide variety of ground scenery. Not that you'll miss it: the water, small islands, planes, aircraft carriers, and battleships are always very sharp and detailed. However, if you expect to play with the graphics at their best settings, be aware that you'll need a blazing fast machine with a fast video card. On lesser computers, the graphics in Combat Flight Simulator 2 start to degrade from stunning to merely ordinary.

As an avid flight simmer, I was really looking forward to this game, but also with a lot of doubts. The game itself is incredible; graphics are the best I have seen from any flight simulation. The concern when I first got it was, the same thing that disappointed me with FS2000, the frame rate. I, by no means have a fast computer (PIII 600, 128 MB RAM), but I am consistently getting a pleasing 25-30 frames a second from CFS2, and that was with the detail turned on full blast and 4 planes buzzing around, I was overwhelmed. The only way I could get that good of frame rates from FS2000, was to fly at night over the ocean.

The detail put into this game is great, everything from seeing the ripples in the water as a ship is sunk, to the sounds of the ships motors as you fly by, flying through the flak, oh and of course the damage of the planes being shot.....very nice. There were a few disappointments, one being wingman commands....they are very limited, and the limited amount of planes you can fly, I would have liked to fly a B-25 and drop 3000 lbs of bombs on a tiny island, overall its a outstanding game, 1 step above CFS Europe.

Also, I bought my first FS software to fly the number one freeware aircraft simulator on the Internet - The TR-3B Flying Triangle. I flew fighters for the Air Force in late Vietnam, specifically the F-111 and am rated commercial also. The TR-3B Flight Simulator for Microsoft's Flight Sim, is based on the writings, lectures, and TV interviews of Edgar Fouche who wrote "Alien Rapture." (See amazon)

Why? This is what the genius who developed it wrote: "For the experienced flight simmer on FS2002 PRO, I have developed this complete exotic amphibian TR-3B package, which is now available as freeware for download. It includes 3 models - the purple Astra, blue Locust and white Hellas - and as an extra 4th model the TR-3X with its own speedy attacker flight dynamics. The package includes TR-3B panel & gauges, noise cancellation sounds, fsuipc and special lights effects.

This TR-3B is a heavy tactical reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a magnetic field disruptor that reduces the weight by 89 percent (it is not the same as anti-gravity, though). It has been created for Microsoft Flight Simulator. All gauges are included.

The TR-3B can float like a speedboat at Mach 1.5 over water, fly like a heavy helicopter, like a bush plane, a business jet, like a military jet and lift like a rocket. Cruise speed is approx Mach 4.7 at FL340 and above, and approx Mach 2 at sea level. Service ceiling approx 69,000 feet ASL. Super stable. FSFREEWARE, SURCLARO, FSPLANET aircraft simulator sites have reported as many as 5000 downloads in one week!

I searched and read many many web pages about his book and the author, Edgar Fouche including; startfinish(put in the dot com.)biz/wise Click on links for Fouche and Flying Triangle. You will find his full presentation, and the download links for the TR-3B. Get the Great TR-3B Top Secret aircraft simulator and X-Plane, which I highly recommend.

This is yet another dissapointment for me. I don't know which was work the...boring single player missions, the [people] on XBOX Live or the fact that I can't customize my mech or pilot from the cockpit.
This game starts you off pretty much just running over...infantry. Eventually you'll get on to fighting mechs but the power ups along the way make it pretty easy for you to go toe to toe with most mechs in the game. You'll find Single Player will bore you to sleep.
Now if you have Live it's different. Unlike Unreal Championship this game doesn't have very man lag issues and it's fun to be elementals. The biggest problem I see is the [people] who play with you if there not shout out you about taking there power ups their singing femine hygiene songs (don't ask). Then there are these [people] who put on there voice masker and these use this one called child and they scream there lungs out and it kills your ears.
I gave this one 3 out of 5. If you get past the boring Single Player and all the [people] who play Live you'll have fun for a little while. I'd say if you had to pick a live game go with Ghost Recon...

First off, let me say I'm having a blast playing this game! I sure love blowing buildings up, and it's satisfying to toast your enemy 'mechs and watch them fry when their fusion reactors blow up. I haven't tried the Live version yet, but I'm sure it'll be more fun playing against humans. AI can be a bit dumb sometimes.

OK. The bad parts? The 3rd person view can be a bit annoying when your mech is up against trees or cliffs - it goes bananas - I get disoriented. I wish they would allow us to switch between different views like in MW4; you have a cockpit view, and several different 3rd person views, which even allows you to see yourself from the front, from the left, from the right, from above, etc.. Also, targeting in MW4 allows a ZOOM, which is really neat when you try to hit far-away targets that you can't see on screen.

The next thing is that unlike MW4, there aren't any critical hit areas where you can shoot off a 'mech's leg, arm, or a weapon pod, instead of just shooting at the torso. The other thing, is there's no more "Death from Above" move, where your mech with Jumpjets (like cougar and Uziel, for example) jumps off and lands on top of another mech to damage it. It's one of the Mech Warrior 4 highlights. It's one of those hard core Mech Warrior moves that I love to try.

Another thing: you can't customize your 'mech in Mech Assault (so far - maybe in live, but I don't know). This is another MW4 highlight that I love. There are many camo and marks you can put to make your mech *distinctively your own* in MW4. I really miss that feature.

I understand that this is a console game, but there's no reason why you can't have some depth to the game such as custom skin, critical movements and critical damage abilities. I think it would have made me give this game 5 out of 5 stars.

- Mech Warrior Max "Snake" Lee

This game is as good as Halo when it comes to 3D first person shooter games. I think the story is excellent, you're a part of the Wolf Dragoons mercenary regiment and you're responsible for liberating a planet against murderous religious fanatics called the Word of Blake. Just the game I need, piloting giant heavily armed machines killing murderous religious fanatics!! I won't tell you the end because I don't want to spoil it!! Get it, its greater than Final Fantasy will ever be!!

if you have older version computer you could hardly open it as it takes so many memories of it, and i don't know how to build it as there is no manual or explaining of it , maybe somebody knows how, but sure you couldn't use it in older version computer as i said above. i believe it even takes you long time to build stuff.

I played SimCity 2000 and loved it; the only major downs of that game were the fact that you can't build on hills (or should I call them "cliffs"?) and if you have a diagonal road, the buildings don't come up to the edge of it, as real buildings would. Nevertheless, I found the game rather entertaining and challenging.

So I figured, when I bought SimCity 3000 Unlimited, that it would be a great deal better than 2000. I won't say it isn't better. It is. But I think that all the new changes are still very little. That is, you get new buildings, the ability to design your own buildings, new zones, and a slightly nicer interface. I particularly like the Asian Landmark buildings (though the romanization of some of the names is sometimes inaccurate.) But, as some other reviewers have mentioned, it's slow when you get a big city (even on a top of the line computer), and is such a memory hog that I have to turn off my few background applications as well as the music and traffic.

If you don't already have a SimCity game, I'd say get it ... it is a good game. But if you've got 3000, or even just 2000, I'd say wait; maybe 4000 will be a smoother, more realistic version.

SimCity 3000 Unlimited is one of the few games that I really love to play over and over again. It enables the player to build the city of their dreams utilizing famous real-life city landmarks and buildings. You may use these buildings and incorporate them into your dream city. The game can also be upgraded from the Maxis downloads page where players can download new building landmarks, download player custom built buildings, or to simply create their own stylish building to add into their cities. The graphics are great and the buildings are each detailed. You can now zoom in 3 times as close than before with SimCity 2000. Cars and people are easily noticeable at such zoom magnifications. The only problems I experienced when playing this game was that even with a killer computer system and over 1 gig of memory, the gameplay seems to lag when you scroll through a large city that you built. I believe this may be true in all Maxis games that involves building Sims or large populations such as cities and theme parks. Nonetheless, this game is still considered a favorite among other games I have in my library of games.
Gameplay = 9/10
Graphics = 7/10
Sound = 8/10
Value = 8/10

Ghost Recon, as has been mentioned in reviews here before, is not for the run-and-gun players out there. While you may use some strategy with those games, it is absolutely necessary to strategize in Ghost Recon simply for survival.

First, the single player campaign. And "campaign" is really the only word to describe it. You begin your mission in the republic of Georgia. The story is very gripping because you realize that something like this could actually happen. So you are instantly engrossed in the game. You progress thru a number of missions (roughly 15). Something that sets this game apart from the Rainbow Six games is the character-building process. As someone returns from battle, they get an additional skill point to spend on one of four skills: leadership, weapons, endurance, or stealth. This makes it even more imperative that you not lose a soldier, because if you have used that one soldier on all of your missions, and they have all of your skill points, losing them makes the remainder of the game very rough. Another very good reason for playing the campaign (other than just because it's so engrossing and fun) is to unlock weapons, game types, and maps for the multiplayer action.

Xbox Live is where Ghost Recon really shines. I really enjoyed the single player campaign, and in fact still go back to it, if only to unlock more items. But to play on a network with other people, communicating by voice, is simply incredible. To work together to formulate and then carry out a plan is mind-blowing compared to other games out there today. I played Counter Strike for a while, but there were too many people who wanted to work alone and not in a team environment. But with the voice communication now, it's so amazing! I really can't emphasize enough how great this functionality is. You can plan your strategy, alert your teammates to the presence of the enemy, etc. The possibilities are truly endless.

The only reason I didn't give this a 5-star rating is because of some issues with Live play. There are some people out there who should not be hosting because of their connection speeds. But once you find some good hosts, you simply add them to your Friends list and look for them to be online. Once you have a nice Friends list built up, the game becomes even more fun because you play with the same group a lot, becoming familiar with one another's strategies, etc.

yes the game is very good. i havent got the chance to play it online. I still play tournaments with friends. the controls in this game ( out of 5) is a 3.7. they are hard to master. gameplay is a 4.9. there can be some rough spots. A.I for your team mates is a 2.2. they get in the way causing you to get shot a lot.enemy A.I is a 5 they are very smart.graphics are a 4.10.
there can be object that need to be 3d that are 2d
fun factor is most definatley a 5. This game is addictive.
there is so much good thing to write about this game. Levels are emerse and interactive. fire fights make you feel like you are actually on the battle field.
the weapons shoot just like the real thing. Overall the game is interesting. every level will want you to keep playing. shorty z was here. oh yeah if any one out ther knows the lowest price for socom tell me.

With Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, squad based combat on the XBox lets you play through single player missions or take it online with XBox Live for up to 16 simultaneous players.

Gameplay involves you running a team of up to 6 members. The team members can be snipers, foot soldiers, engineers, and more. As in Rainbox Six, you can build your teammates up through the levels so they can gain more skills.

The single player missions are interesting, with landscapes varying from countryside to small towns to big city streets. You have to use stealth and strategy to achieve your objectives without dying or running out of ammo. Each teammate must use his strengths and help cover for each other's weaknesses.

The graphics aren't exactly stunning - while the buildings have windows and doors drawn on them, for example, you can't shoot out the windows. It's more like they are giant squares with murals painting on them. On the other hand, the human bodies are extremely well done, with their movement and actions.

The sounds are immersive and draw you in. There's background noises of wind and cars which can make it harder for you to hear the footsteps of your enemy ... or at times mask the noise of your own footsteps. If a loud noise happens near you, it gives the realistic temporary 'underwater' sensation as in real life.

Single player is just practice for the real fun of Ghost Recon - XBox Live play. Unlike PS2 or Computer gameplay, with XBox Live you're guaranteed that other players all have a high speed (Cable Modem) connection speed. This means the lag you see in many other on line games is pretty much completely avoided.

We play a ton of games on line and this is one of our current favorites. Recommended for XBox Live owners who enjoy team-based gameplay.

This game is extremely generic. Nothing like "Tekken Tag Tournament" or "Tekken 3". The fighters all have annoying cheesy lines before a fight. "Virtua FIghter 4" get's boring really fast. Save your money for a better fighter such as "Tekken Tag Tournament" or "Tekken 3".

I had a chance to play Virtua Fighter 4 at an arcade. I'm guessing the machine had a PS2 inside the cabinet because there were noticeable lines and aliasing problems on a big screen monitor. I highly doubt that Yu Suzuki would've released VF4 with graphics worse than VF3.

The lens flare effects are not terribly impressive after having played Halo or any recent game. The clothing textures seemed to be alright, but not as impressive as those of Dead or Alive 3. Kage's outfits get more convoluted for their own good with each sequel. You can see how the original characters are aging a bit now, not just a mere polygon boost.

As far as the gameplay goes, I'm sure I didn't spend enough time playing it to really develop a deep understanding of the system, but the exclusion of the evade button was a mistake in my opinion. Double taps on the controller are annoying at best except for executing moves. Holding down the evade button to run away, step sideways or flip backwards seemed like a more fluid interface. And the joystick jiggling animation really reinforces the fact that you are playing a game...it's obnoxious frankly, along with the colored spark and lighting effects with each hit.

Initially, my first impression is that VF3 has a much more elegant feel to it. Without the presence of Takaarashi, the body types are not as diverse. Jeffery seems to have gotten bigger and more bulky...I dunno, after waiting more than 4 years for this, I feel a little bit disappointed. They had never dropped any VF characters with each sequel, but then to drop one of the more interesting? Pai could've been dropped easily. Her style mimics Lau's and her character is not terribly interesting compared to Kasumi or Ayane from Dead or Alive 3...

A bold statement, but true in every sense of the word. The Year of the Fighter has started off with a big bang with the home release of Sega's Virtua Fighter 4. With a new Mortal Kombat game on the horizon, not to mention Tekken 4 and Soul Calibur 2, fighting fans have a lot to look forward to in 2002. However, the race may already be over - VF4's competitors have a gigantic mountain to climb.

Graphically, VF4 is a masterpiece. You won't see any multi-tiered environments a la DOA or flashy effects like Soul Calibur. The Virtua Fighter series has always been grounded in reality, and the newest incarnation is the most realistic fighter yet. The characters are modelled with compelling accuracy and astounding, lifelike animation (no fireball casting here) - clothing wraps around limbs, flaps in the wind, and flows with breathtaking movement. The arenas are spectacular creations: Pai fights in an underwater aquarium with sea life swimming outside its glass walls, and Jacky battles on the roof of a skyscraper with several circling helicopters creating some amazing lighting effects. You might find sand or snow underfoot, or be knee-deep in water. You'll be in a cage surrounded by a shouting crowd. You'll see leaves softly falling, or birds overhead. These are perfect places in which to battle. Most of the arenas contain incredible animation, and although they don't really affect the gameplay, they make the fights that much more involving. Walls can be broken in some places, and ring-outs happen, but not as often as in Soul Calibur. The dreaded PS2 "jaggies" are present, but they're only noticeable if you're looking for them. The combination of realistic fighter animation and beautiful environments make VF4 the current best-looking home fighter.

As amazing as it looks, however, the gameplay of VF4 is what vaults it into Soul Calibur territory. The controls consist of three buttons: punch, kick, and guard; and the d-pad. That's it. The PS2 controller allows you to map button combinations to a single key (i.e. P+K+G = R2) if you so desire, which can make pulling off more complicated moves easier for beginners. Each character has literally hundreds of individual moves at his or her disposal; throws, reversals, rising attacks, combos, etc. There are only 13 fighters, but they are all perfectly balanced, and each is very different from the other. Lei-Fei is a Chinese monk who features several stances; Kage is a ninja who sports airborne throws; Lion uses Mantis Fist style; Wolf is a pro wrestler. Button mashing won't get you far against a VF master or the higher difficulty CPU settings. You're required to explore your fighter's capabilities, using strategy for victory. It may seem overwhelming at first, but the game's perfect control makes maneuvering your fighter second nature after a few matches. The Virtua Fighter system is deceptively simple, and as you get used to the timing of a side-step followed by a vicious counterattack, a perfect reversal of an incoming combo, and throwing, you'll discover how much attention Sega paid to it. Unlike past VF games, beginners can get the jist pretty quickly, but the artistry of the fighting engine becomes more apparent over time, and rewards the patient.

VF4 features several modes. Arcade mode pits you against all 13 fighters with progressing AI difficulty, and Vs. is for multiplayer. Pretty standard stuff, although there's nothing quite like a human vs. human VF match. Its replayability is infinite, and it works best when the two combatants are of relatively equal skill levels, making fights a match of wits as much a match of reflexes.

One new addition is Kumite Mode, a tournament of sorts. Pick a character, and fight an unending stream of CPU opponents, progressing in rank along the way. The better you do, the harder the enemies. Perform well, and you unlock customizable items like sunglasses, jewelry, and headgear. It's like a souped-up Survival Mode, and is highly addicting. You can eventually take each fighter through the entire Kumite Mode - a daunting task that will take many, many hours to complete. The higher difficulty levels are brutal, and require mastery of your character.

Training Mode is a fantastic creation. It's split into three sections, one of which allows you to practice combos to get your timing down. The second lets you practice against a CPU dummy, which can be set at several difficulty levels. You can even program the dummy to perform a specific combo to practice countering or evasive tactics. The third section contains different challenges that teach you the basics of the VF universe. This mode is highly recommended for beginners, as it teaches the skills necessary for success. It also gives you a glimpse at how deep and refined the VF engine is, like peeling back a layer to find many more underneath.

AI Mode allows you to train a "blank slate" fighter yourself, and set it lose against your friends or even in Kumite Mode. It's a novel idea, but isn't quite as compelling as the other modes. Still fun to play around with, though.

Virtua Fighter is a more involved, strategic game than, say, the Marvel vs. Capcom series. It relies on technique rather than flash, in both gameplay and visuals. It's been made more accessible for newcomers (after all, this is the first time a VF game has appeared on a non-Sega console), but still retains the complexity of previous installments. VF4 is a labor of love. In comparison to Soul Calibur, the extras and flashiness of SC are balanced out by VF's incredible fighting system and Kumite Mode. Some may argue that DOA3 is prettier, but Tecmo's series doesn't come close to the sim aspects of Virtua Fighter. Sega has drawn first blood in Year of the Fighter, and it currently sits beside Soul Calibur as the best fighting game available.